The World Health Organization warned Wednesday, that an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in many countries of the Middle East could lead to catastrophic consequences.

The organization explained in a statement issued by the office responsible for the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, that after the decrease in cases and deaths for eight weeks, that there is a significant increase in cases of infection in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, in addition to expected sharp increases in Lebanon and Morocco.

"The World Health Organization is concerned that the current rise in COVID-19 infections may continue in the coming weeks, with catastrophic consequences," the WHO regional office said.

The organization added that the blame is directed at non-compliance with public health measures, social distancing and "increased laxity of societies", in addition to low vaccination rates and the spread of new strains of the virus.

The World Health Organization highlighted the situation in Tunisia as the country with the highest death rate in the region, and further indicated that daily infections nearly doubled in Iran over the four weeks until early July.

The statement stated that the total number of cases in the eastern Mediterranean region of the organization, which includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Djibouti, in addition to the countries of the Middle East, exceeded 11.4 million, while the recorded deaths exceed 223,000.

Next week, the countries of the region will celebrate Eid al-Adha, an occasion that traditionally witnesses religious and social gatherings in which the virus may spread further.